Words from homeowner, Jennifer:
I used to walk with my dog past my current plot of land for eight years, down the gravel lane where my new plot is now located. On this walk I would pass a (1930’s) run down bungalow, lived in by a nice old man, known as a “bit of a character” locally. On his death, the plot lay untouched for two years and got pretty overgrown; the bungalow even more so. Time passed before the plot was put up for sealed bid tender.
You had to be ‘pre-approved’ to make a sealed bid (to ensure you had the funds) and it was like nothing I have ever done before. I presented my sealed bid and heard that day I had been successful: I was nearly sick and wondered why I had thought to bid more than anyone else, paying £370,000: I subsequently learnt that it was quite close.
I had been looking for a period property for renovation but struggled to find any in my price range, so I thought: why not build something new? It was not a long term aim of mine to self-build; it came about more by opportunities that presented themselves.
The planning application process
The plot did not have planning permission. I knew I was entitled to build on the existing footprint, but the bungalow was tiny so I hoped to achieve approval to build a much larger house. I engaged a local sensitive structural engineer to draw up some plans.
I invited neighbours and the Parish Council to view them and comment before submission to reduce any objections. Apart from some delay over a historical land title issue, with very little trouble I secured planning permission for a green oak framed barn. We made very few changes to our original plans, which were well thought through first time!
I got everything I wanted from the planning. The position of the new dwelling allowed us to live in the bungalow while our new barn was being built. We later demolished this building after we moved in.
Choosing to build with oak
I found the names of three oak framers through a Homebuilding & Renovating magazine and their prices were fairly similar to be honest. However in subsequent discussion and visits I felt the Oakwrights’ staff were a better fit for me. Oak frames, in my experience, are not an exact science and you need to feel that the oak frame supplier will be working with you to ensure you get a good product at the end.
I know contracts have to be signed but you want to feel that they won’t be waved at you the first time something goes wrong! Very little went wrong actually: the frame sat quite nicely on the brick plinth, which given the build tolerances is amazing. The team of carpenters on-site were friendly and the whole process went well enough for me to book another oak frame with Oakwrights, which I project managed for clients in a nearby village!
“ The team of carpenters on-site were friendly and the whole process went well enough for me to book another oak frame with Oakwrights. „ Jennifer
“ The team of carpenters on-site were friendly and the whole process went well enough for me to book another oak frame with Oakwrights. „
Jennifer
An oak frame home for the future
The site preparation (there were lots of old cars and machinery on-site) along with the build preparation, which involved obtaining tenders for the oak frame etc. and groundworks, all took about four months. Breaking ground to moving in, with bits still to finish but pretty much done, took just a year, with a further six months for subsequent planning for a garage with bedroom above and general landscaping. So, the whole process spanned across two years from start to finish.
The best bit about my barn home, for me, is the way the large amount of windows/doors on ground floor allows you to see the outside world form every point. My oak frame home sits in the middle of the plot and so these nice views wrap all around it. In the summer, all the doors are open and in the winter, with doors shut and wood burner on you feel as if you are surrounded by all the leaves blowing about or the garden covered in snow, while remaining all warm and toasty inside. It is an uplifting space in the darker winter months.
The most used room is the kitchen family room, where everyone crowds into, despite having a large lounge and entrance hall. There are seven sofas in the house but everyone sits on the low window cills in the kitchen/family room.
I love the hard working slate floor. With a muddy Labrador and many visitors we can just mop it over and away we go again. The conservation grade windows over each lavatory in each en-suite/bathroom please me and work well too, as you don’t need any curtains or patterned glass for privacy and you can lie in the bath and see the stars at night.
I can honestly say that there is little I would change!
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